Ludwig Blenker

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Ludwig (Louis) Blenker as Brigadier General of the Union Forces
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Ludwig Blenker , in the USA Louis Blenker (born July 31, 1812 in Worms , † October 31, 1863 in Rockland County , New York , USA ) was a German military, 1848 revolutionary and later general of the Northern States in the American Civil War .

Life

Blenker was enlisted by the Bavarian Legion as a student at the Munich Polytechnic in 1832 and accompanied King Otto to Greece . In 1837 he returned to Worms and opened a wine shop there, which soon went bankrupt. In the revolution of 1848/49 he was elected colonel in the vigilante group. When his election was not confirmed by the ministry, he joined the democratic ultras. He was one of the main leaders of the revolutionary forces in Rheinhessen and commanded Rheinhessen and Palatinate free troops . On May 10, 1849, he seized the city of Ludwigshafen and occupied Worms on May 17. Already on 28/29. However, the Hessian general Friedrich von Schäffer-Bernstein recaptured Worms on May 25th . He later launched an attack on Landau , which was unsuccessful. After the Prussians entered the Palatinate, Blenker and his men went to Baden and fought, among other things, at an important point in the battle on the Murg .

After the uprising was suppressed, Blenker went to Switzerland , from which he was expelled in September 1849. He then emigrated to the United States of America with his wife Elise . He lived there as a farmer and later moved to New York .

Shortly after the outbreak of the American Civil War , he was given command of the 8th New York Infantry Regiment, which consisted mainly of German immigrants , and was raised to the rank of colonel . In the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861, he commanded the reserve brigade of the 5th Division and was the only one of the higher commanders of the federal troops to withstand the advancing southerners . In doing so, he saved the federal capital Washington from being captured by the Confederates . On August 9, 1861, he was promoted to brigadier general, commanded a division at the opening of the 1862 campaign, and distinguished himself in West Virginia, particularly at Cross Keys . After the battle, General Blenker resigned command of his division and went to Washington, where he submitted his farewell and was also dismissed in full honor.

Ludwig Blenker died on October 31, 1863 of his injuries sustained while still on active duty when he fell from his horse in Warrenton (Virginia) . He is buried in Rockland Cemetery in Sparkill , New York .

literature

Web links

Commons : Ludwig Blenker  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Louis Blenker's grave in the Find a Grave database .
personal data
SURNAME Blenker, Ludwig
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Blenker, Louis
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German military and American general
DATE OF BIRTH July 31, 1812
PLACE OF BIRTH Worms
DATE OF DEATH October 31, 1863
Place of death Rockland County , New York